Chrysanthemum plant named Daring

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant named Daring having flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; white ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 90 to 105 mm. at maturity; uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; tall plant height when grown single stem; 20 to 25 cm. peduncles on open, normally terminal sprays; and 13° C. minimum temperature tolerance for initiation and development of flowering buds.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named Daring.

Daring is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars having low temperaturetolerance for cut spray mum programs with daisy capitulum type, whiteray floret color, nine week flowering response, and the ability toproduce commercially acceptable quality in year round programs. Suchtraits in combination were not present or needed improvement inpreviously available commercial cultivars.

Daring was originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding programin Salinas, Calif. in 1977. The female parent identified as 761334 wasan unnamed white daisy seedling originated from a hybridization ofSophisticate, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,944, with Surfside, anunpatented cultivar. The male parent of Daring was identified as7621401, an unnamed daisy originated from a cross between Superstar,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,299, and an unnamed white anemoneseedling.

Daring was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by William E. Duffett in September 1978 in acontrolled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Daring was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in December1978 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by a technicianworking under formulations established and supervised by William E.Duffett.

Horticultural examination of selected units initiated June 1980 hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor Daring are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Daring has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif. and Leamington, Canada under greenhouseconditions which approximate those generally used in commercialpractice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Daring which in combination distinguish thischrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Flat capitulum form;

(2) Daisy capitulum type;

(3) White ray floret color;

(4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 90 to 105 mm. atmaturity;

(5) Uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days;

(6) Long peduncle length, ranging from 20 to 25 mm.;

(7) Tall plant height, requiring 1-2 long day weeks prior to short daysto attain a flowered plant height of 80 to 100 cm. for May throughOctober flowerings, and

(8) Low temperature tolerance of 13° C. (55° F.) for initiation anddevelopment when grown in single stem cut spray programs with acontinuous dark period of 13 to 14 hours.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Daring, with the colors being as nearly trueas possible with illustrations of this type. Sheet 1 is a colorphotograph of Daring grown as a single cut spray. Sheet 2 is a black andwhite photograph of three views of the inflorescence of Daring. Sheet 3is a black and white photograph showing the leaves of Daring at threestages of development (mature, intermediate and immature).

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to Daring is White Marble, an unpatented butcommercially available cultivar. Reference is made to attached Chart Awhich compares certain characteristics of Daring to those samecharacteristics of White Marble.

Daring and White Marble are similar in ray floret color, capitulum formand type, and flowering response period. Daring has longer, strongerpeduncles, larger diameter across face of capitulum, and greater plantheight. Tolerance of 13° C. is similar in Daring and White Marble.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 11:00 A.M. and 11:30 A.M. on Aug. 10, 1982 under 150 foot-candlelight intensity at Salinas, Calif.

CLASSIFICATION

Botanical: Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Daring.

Commercial: Spray daisy cut mum.

INFLORESCENCE

Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--90 to 105 mm.

Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--White.

Color (abaxial).--155D.

Color (adaxial).--155D.

Shape.--Broad. Oblong with rounded tip.

Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--14B.

Color (immature).--144C.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only; abundant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

General appearance:

Height.--Tall; 80 to 100 cm. as a flowering plant from a rooted cutting,with 7 long days for May through October flowerings and maintaining aminimum nightly 13 to 14 hour continuous dark period.

Foliage:

Color (abaxial).147A.

Color (adaxial).147B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed and deeply serrated.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF DARING AND WHITE MARBLE                                         ______________________________________                                                 RAY       CAPITULUM                                                           FLORET    FORM AND    SPRAY                                          CULTIVAR COLOR     TYPE        FORMATION                                      ______________________________________                                        DARING   WHITE     FLAT        TERMINAL                                                          DAISY       and COMPOUND                                                                  20 to 25 cm.                                                                  PEDUNCLES                                      WHITE    WHITE     FLAT        TERMINAL                                       MARBLE             DAISY       and COMPOUND                                                                  15 to 20 cm.                                                                  PEDUNCLES                                      ______________________________________                                                 DIAMETER                                                                      ACROSS                  FLOWERING                                             FACE OF       PLANT     RESPONSE                                     CULTIVAR CAPITULUM     HEIGHT    PERIOD                                       ______________________________________                                        DARING   90 to 105 mm. 80 to     9 WEEKS                                                             100 cm.                                                WHITE    75 to 90 mm.  70 to     9 WEEKS                                      MARBLE                 80 cm.                                                 ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS SINGLE                                    STEM SPRAY CUT MUMS WITH 7 LONG DAYS IN                                       SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                                           ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct plant of Chrysanthemum morifolium,Ramat., named Daring, as described and illustrated, and particularlycharacterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flatcapitulum form; daisy capitulum type; white ray floret color; diameteracross face of capitulum ranging from 90 to 105 mm. at maturity; uniformnine week flowering response; tall plant height when grown single stem;20 to 25 cm. peduncles on open, normally terminal sprays; and 13° C.minimum temperature tolerance for initiation and development offlowering buds.